Multiple fuse plug



May 1, 1934. K. A. FERRY ET AL MULTIPLE FUSE PLUG Filed July 12, 1933 li'jennetk Edw ardL .131 a hes ae,

Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE FUSE PLUG Application July 12, 1933, Serial No. 680,110

3 Claims.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fuse plugs and particularly to fuse plugs of the multiple fuse type.

Multiple fuse plugs are not broadly new, but

the present invention constitutes an improvement over the prior art in both construction and design.

The object of the invention is the production of a multiple fuse plug whereby all of the wiring, terminals, and fuses, are supported and carried adjacent the walls of the main base or body member of the plug and so arranged that the successive contacts can be made by a bridging member rigidly secured in a rotatable cap or cover member associated with the plug.

Another object is to provide a multiple fuse plug in which the various parts are permanently and more or less rigidly secured to or mounted within the main body of the fuse plug, including both the positive and negative terminals and thus eliminating all spring contact members usually employed.

A further object is to so construct the cover or cap for the plug that a slight rotation of said cover or cap will close the circuit successively through the respective fuses through a metal contact strip, imbedding in the under face of the cap or cover, as clearly shown in the drawing.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a vertical sectional view clearly illustrating the various parts;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the completely assembled device;

Figure 3 is a top plan view with the cover removed;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the top portion of the plug with the cover removed; and

Figure 5 is an inverted view of the cap or cover.

, Referring to the drawing in detail the improved plug comprises a main body portion 1, a cap or cover 2 and a securing ring or the like 3 whereby the parts 1 and 2 are held together in operative position or relation. The body portion 1 of the plug is provided with the usual threaded sleeve 4 whereby the plug is secured in operative position, said sleeve forming one of the electrical terminals. Secured to the threaded sleeve 4 is a wire terminal 5 passing upwardly through an opening 6 in the fuse plug body and the upper end of this wire terminal 5 is in turn secured to an annular member or ring '7 mounted in a corresponding recess in the upper annular face of the fuse plug body as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

The other terminal of the plug comprises a center contact member 8, preferably extending upwardly through the center of the plug into a 1101- lowed recess 9 provided in the central portion of the fuse plug body 1. This center contact member 8 is threaded at its inner end and provided with a washer or the like 10 and a nut 11 whereby the lower ends of the fusible members 12 are clamped and secured to the center contact member 8 as clearly shown in Figure 1.

These fusible members 12, four being shown, extend upwardly within the hollowed portion 9 of the fuse plug body and the upper ends thereof are secured in corresponding recesses, whereby the upper faces of the respective fusible members will be flush or substantially so with the upper face of the fuse plug body. It will be also noted 7 upon referring to Figures 1, 3 and 4 that with the construction above described there is a gap or space between the annular terminal member 7 and the extreme ends of the fusible members 12.

In order to complete the circuit during the operation of the plug there is provided a bridge member or plate 13 imbedded in the under face of the cover or cap 2, this bridge member 13 being clearly shown in Figures 1 and 5, the cap or cover 2 being provided with a flange l4 closely fitting the flat upper face of the fuse plug body 1. As hereinbefore stated the cap or cover 2 is held or secured to the main body portion 1 of the fuse plug by a flanged ring or the like 3, said ring however permitting a rotation of the cap 2 with respect to the main body portion of the plug.

In the preferred construction this clamping ring 3 is anchored against rotation, to the fuse plug body by a depression 15 adapted to engage a recess 16 provided in the upper edge portion of the main body 1 of the plug as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The upper face of the clamping ring is provided with numerals l to 4 inclusive as shown in Figure 2, which numerals correspond to the number of fusible members 12 and their position within the main body portion of the plug. In other words these numerals provide indicating means for the various fusible members during the operation of the plug.

In a like manner the rotatable cap or cover 2 is provided with a projection or ridge 1'? located at a point directly above the imbedded contact bridging member 13 whereby a simple means is provided to indicate from the exterior of the cover or cap the exact location of the bridge member 13, and it is only necessary to locate this ridge 17 directly opposite any one of the numerals on the face of the clamping ring 3 to be assured of a proper contact.

The cap or cover 2 is preferably of the shape and construction as shown and the upper end of said cap is closed with a transparent member 18 of any preferred material whereby the fusible members 12 will be visible through the upper end of the plug and the condition thereof can be readily determined from time to time.

Although the present application illustrates and describes what might be called a four-way plug it is perfectly obvious that the same construction is applicable to multiple fuse plugs emplying more than four fusible members.

What is claimed is:-

1. In a multiple fuse plug, the combination with a body portion provided with a flat annular upper face portion, of a rotatable cap or cover adapted to engage the flat annular face of said body portion, a pair of terminals carried by said body portion, a plurality of fuses connected to one of said terminals and each terminating at the upper annular face of the body portion, a current carrying ring connected to the other terminal and also mounted in the annular upper face of said body portion, and a terminal bridging plate carried by the under face of said cap or cover.

2. In a multiple fuse plug, the combination With a body portion provided with a flat annular upper face portion, of a rotatable cap or cover adapted to engage the flat annular upper face of said body portion, means for rotatably securing said parts together, a pair of terminals carried by said body portion, a plurality of spaced fuses connected to one of said terminals and each terminating at the upper annular face of the body portion and secured therein, a current carrying ring connected to the other terminal and also mounted in the annular upper face of said body portion but spaced from the upper ends of said fuses and a terminal bridging plate carried by the under face of said cap or cover adapted to complete the circuit between the current carrying ring and the upper ends of the respective fuses.

3. In a multiple fuse plug, the combination with a substantially cap-shaped or hollowed body portion provided with a flat annular upper face or rim portion, of a rotatable cap or cover provided with a flat flange portion adapted to engage the flat annular upper face or rim portion of said body portion, a pair of terminals carried by said body portion, a plurality of fuses connected to one of said terminals and having their upper ends partially embedded in said flat annular upper face of the body portion, a current carrying ring connected to the other terminal and also partially embedded in the annular upper face of said body portion, and a terminal bridging plate rigidly secured in the under face of said cap or cover member.

KENNETH A. FERRY. EDWARD L. BLAKESLEE. 

